Overijssel faces accessibility gaps in public transport

Ten years after the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Dutch province of Overijssel continues to face significant accessibility challenges. While provincial officials note progress in digital accessibility and government buildings, practical barriers remain in public transportation.

A provincial inquiry revealed that nearly half of the neighborhood bus associations in Overijssel do not accommodate wheelchair users. Out of twenty-five associations, twelve reportedly refuse wheelchair passengers, often citing physical limitations. Drivers, many of whom are elderly volunteers, struggle to assist passengers due to steep ramps and low platforms.

Users have described the inability to access these services as a form of social discrimination. Provincial official Martijn Dadema acknowledged that while steps are being taken by municipalities and entrepreneurs, the province must continue to work toward the 2040 goal of full societal equality for people with disabilities, noting that the Netherlands as a whole has received warnings from the United Nations regarding progress.